1 deceitful | Definition of deceitful
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

deceitful

adjective
de·​ceit·​ful | \ di-ˈsÄ“t-fÉ™l How to pronounce deceitful (audio) \

Definition of deceitful

: having a tendency or disposition to deceive or give false impressions:
a : not honest a deceitful child left her deceitful husband
b : deceptive, misleading deceitful advertising
Other Words from deceitful Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about deceitful

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from deceitful

deceitfully \ di-​ˈsÄ“t-​fÉ™-​lÄ“ How to pronounce deceitfully (audio) \ adverb
deceitfulness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for deceitful

dishonest, deceitful, mendacious, untruthful mean unworthy of trust or belief. dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud. a swindle usually involves two dishonest people deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing. the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths. mendacious tales of adventure untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality. an untruthful account of their actions

Examples of deceitful in a Sentence

charged the store owner with such deceitful practices as inflating the list prices for items only so he could put them on sale at drastically reduced prices the deceitful salesman neglected to mention some important information about the used car

Recent Examples on the Web

 Why this particular piece of property is so frequently visited by these mangy, disheveled, deceitful and smirking creatures remains a mystery. — Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, "Soucheray: Don’t let the plump 3-year-old loose in the back yard unless the dog is at hand," 27 July 2019 For centuries, authors have described this sound as deceitful or mischievous. — Christine Dell'amore, National Geographic, "Hyenas have a bad rap—but they’re Africa’s most successful predator," 14 June 2019 Preachers began to tell anecdotes about deceitful Jewish misers who consorted with the devil; artists began to visualize such tales in grotesque and frightening detail, endowing their Jewish villains with distinctively fleshy and bestial features. — Sara Lipton, The New York Review of Books, "A Terribly Durable Myth," 17 June 2019 Goffard originally came across the story after learning that the police in Newport Beach, California, were investigating a possible murder, and discovered a trail of abuse and deceitful behavior committed by Meehan. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "Dirty John: Everything You Need to Know About the New Bravo Show," 25 Oct. 2018 She's portrayed as a big supporter of Billy McFarland, the deceitful mastermind of Fyre. — Rose Minutaglio, Town & Country, "How Carola Jain, a Well-Connected New York Investor, Got Duped Into Funding the Fyre Festival," 26 Jan. 2019 If Ted Cruz had perpetrated some kind of deceitful propaganda on Sotomayor, this would have been all over the front-page news. — Fox News, "Nation marks 17 years since attacks of Sept. 11," 12 Sep. 2018 Based on the hit podcast from Wondery and the Los Angeles Times, Dirty John—the story of a deceitful man and the woman who fell for him—is one of the most anticipated series of the fall. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "Dirty John: Everything You Need to Know About the New Bravo Show," 25 Oct. 2018 People who are glued to screens to the exclusion of other people are regarded with disdain: narcissistic, withholding, deceitful, sneaky. — Susan Crawford, WIRED, "What Are Screens Doing to Our Eyes—And Our Ability to See?," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deceitful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of deceitful

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for deceitful

see deceit

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for deceitful

deceitful

adjective
How to pronounce deceitful (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of deceitful

: not honest : making or trying to make someone believe something that is not true

See the full definition for deceitful in the English Language Learners Dictionary

deceitful

adjective
de·​ceit·​ful | \ di-ˈsÄ“t-fÉ™l How to pronounce deceitful (audio) \

Kids Definition of deceitful

: not honest : full of deceit deceitful advertising

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on deceitful

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for deceitful

Spanish Central: Translation of deceitful

Nglish: Translation of deceitful for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of deceitful for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!